Mendocino College’s Career and Transfer Center is excited to invite you to its 24th Annual Career Fair on March 10th!For the first time, the College is opening the fair to the public and admission is free.Due to the nation’s economic downturn, more people than ever may need to know what career options are within their own communities.“Your Future Is Here,” the theme for this year’s fair, embodies this sentiment.

This year the fair will focus on Green Careers, one of the strongest up-and-coming fields in our area.This falls in line with the launch of new certificate programs offered at Mendocino College in Sustainable Technology, pending final approval.Mendocino College recognizes this quickly expanding field of career opportunities that are redefining the business and career landscape. Orion Walker, the college’s Sustainable Technology Consultant, articulates the importance of understanding green career opportunities, “career opportunities related to sustainability now exist in practically any industry that you can think of, giving students with sustainability knowledge and skills a distinct advantage in the job market across a wide range of sectors.”Mr. Walker will be hosting two breakout sessions on Green Careers with a panel of local business employees and entrepreneurs to confer what green careers mean to them, how they got interested in pursuing their respective fields and how people can begin their own green career paths.

The Career Fair will also focus on Career Pathways which ultimately help students acquire degrees, certificates, and credentials that lead to in-demand occupations, increased wage earnings and lifelong learning.The Career & Transfer Center’s Director, Candie Dickinson, said, “in the career field, we have come a long way in developing accessible pathways for students to reach their professional goals.Enabling students to choose careers by starting with pathways makes it less intimidating, and in turn more tangible.”

At the Fair, there will be an opportunity for college students and the public to attend a resume writing workshop put on by Lake County’s own Lynn Wiley from Resume Solutions.She will discuss how to prepare and write the best resume possible.This is an excellent chance for individuals to get a head start on the competition in attaining the career of their choosing.

Attending the fair along with the public and college students will be middle school and high school students.Candie Dickinson states, “This year we expect more than 70 businesses and more than 100 employees to attend from around Mendocino and Lake Counties to represent their professions.Once again it’s shaping up to be the Center’s largest event. ”

Dickinson also discussed the realities of the job market in today’s economy and the importance of obtaining as much information as possible regarding what careers are out there.“The Career Fair is really the perfect time to receive invaluable information about career opportunities in our area,” she affirms.“Exhibitors attending our fair will be available to answer questions and provide insights to the different careers they represent.Many will share their own stories of how they got involved in their careers, talk about the nature of their work, and how someone can begin pursing their perspective field.” Exhibitors will be able to discuss different ways to start a career through volunteering, internships, part-time and full-time employment.

The Career Fair will be held in the gymnasium on the Mendocino College Ukiah Campus from 10:00am to 12:30pm.The Green Career breakout sessions will be held at 11:00am and 11:45am in the Little Theatre located in the Lowery Library Building.The Resume Writing Workshop will be held from 11:30am – 12:30pm in the Center for Visual and Performing Arts, Room 5310. Campus tours will be given by Mendocino College’s Baseball team starting in front of the Lowery Library Building at 11:00am and 12:00pm. Admission is free for all events.